Community Calendar

The Cortez Journal encourages people to submit announcements about upcoming events for the Community Calendar. Send announcements to news@cortezjournal.com. Items submitted at least two weeks in advance will have a better chance of getting published; items submitted several days before the event might not get published. For more information, call the Journal at 565-8527.

VFW St. Patrick's Day dinner

The VFW Ladies Auxiliary and Post #5231 will be holding their Annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner on Saturday, March 16 starting at 5 p.m. at the Post Home at 136 Grand Avenue in Mancos. Menu includes corn beef and cabbage, carrots, potatoes, dinner roll and dessert along with punch or coffee for $8. Children 6 and under are free.

Spring Hoedown multi-band fundraiser

The Spring Hoedown fundraiser is set for Saturday, March 16 from 5:30 to 11 p.m. at the Mancos Opera House. This event benefits Montezuma School to Farm Project and Pay It Forward Fund. There will be musical performances by Robbie Overfield and the Breaks, Hello Dollface, Caruta Roma, as well as square dancing and line-dancing. There will also be a silent auction, and food, beer and wine will be available for purchase. Admission is $20 for adults; ages 17 and under are free. Tickets are available at Maria's Bookstore (Durango), Zuma Natural Foods (Mancos), Dolores Food Market, Spruce Tree Espresso (Cortez), or at the door. For more information, contact Tami Graham at 759-9716.

Spring Fling

The annual Four Corners Fling Square Dance and Round Dance Festival will be held on Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16 at the Cortez Middle School. On Friday there will be a dance from 7:30 to 10 p.m. On Saturday there will be an informal dance from 1 to 5 p.m. and a grand march at 7:45 p.m. The public is welcome to come and watch professional square dancers perform free of charge. Refreshments will be provided. Enter through the east entrance of CMS and go down the ramp. For more information contact Vonnie at 749-9682.

4-H Western Swing

Come dance with the 4-H Western Swing on March 16 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Montezuma County Annex building on 103 N. Chestnut. DJ Mr. Soul will be providing the entertainment and refreshments will be available for purchase. The cost is $5 for singles and $8 for couples. Tickets will be available at the door. Contact Sherry at 529-6174.

Bake sale fundraiser

There will be a St. Margaret Mary Youth Bake Sale on Sunday, March 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cortez City Market. Funds will go to sending youth to Steubenville of the Rockies in Denver and to World Youth Day in Brazil this summer.

The Cholesterol Myth

The Dolores Healing Space, 102 N. 4th St. in Dolores, will feature Dr. Amy Loschert, Naturopathic Doctor as its free monday night presenter from 6-7 p.m. She will be speaking on the true risk factors for heart disease. What is "good" cholesterol vs. "bad" cholesterol and why do some people have high triglycerides? You will learn how to sort through the confusion of a lipid panel and what a good cholesterol level really looks like as well as pearls for prevention. Call Dr. Amy with questions at 676-1011.

Call for Mentors

The Piņon Project will be at the Mancos Public Library on Wednesday, March 20, from 9:30 a.m. to noon to talk about its mentoring program. The program matches at-risk youth with an adult volunteer who serves as a one-on-one mentor, friend and advocate. The Piņon Project's Mentoring Program is the only program of this type in the area. People interested in learning more, or becoming a mentor, should come to the meeting or call the Piņon Project at 564-1195.

Gymnastics circus

Stormy's Gymnastics will have a circus performance on March 20 starting at 2 p.m. at the Cortez Recreation Center. The performance will feature what local gymnasts have developed in the past year. The schedule is as follows: Tsunamis (ages 3 to 6); The Tornados (ages 6 to 12) at 3 p.m. and the Hurricanes, which are the top gymnasts with mixed ages will be at 4 p.m.

For more info contact Rayna Hale @at 560-3916 or Randy Quillin at 315-209-5846.

High Desert Homesteading

The second course in the High Desert Homesteading seminar series will be on Wednesday, March 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Let It Grow Nursery and Garden located at 90 N. Mildred. The course, "Growing Amber Waves of Grains and Beans," will be presented by Bob Bragg and Mike Coffey. The cost for the class is $15 and includes refreshments and education materials. Tickets can be purchased at Let It Grow. Contact Rosie Carter at 565-4170 or Nina Williams at 560-1443 for more information.

Wonder Women film

In celebration of Women's History Month, Community Cinema at the Mancos Public Library, located at 211 W. First St., will host a screening of Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines. This film traces the fascinating evolution and legacy of Wonder Woman, from the birth of the comic book superheroine in the 1940s to the blockbusters of today, the film looks at how popular representations of powerful women often reflect in society's anxieties about women's liberation. Thursday, March 21 at 7 p.m. in the MPL meeting room. Free and open to the public. For more information call the library at 533-7600.

Heart to Heart Easter concert

The annual Heart to Heart Easter Concert will be held on Friday, March 22 at 7 p.m. at Lifeway Baptist Church.

The evening will include music by area Christian musicians reminding us of the death, burial, and triumphant resurrection of Christ. An offering will be recieved to support Heart to Heart/Montezuma Crisis Pregnancy Center

as they offer services to our community including free pregnancy tests, healthy relationship presentations for teens, and abortion recovery groups for those seeking healing from the emotional and relational pain of

past abortion choics. Call 565-0979 for more information.

Presentation: 'Lincoln's Legacy of Equality and Liberty'

On Saturday, March 23, Montezuma County Court Judge JenniLynn Everett Lawrence will present "Lincoln's Legacy of Equality and Liberty." The program was developed by the Colorado Bar Association and is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Montezuma County. It will be held at 9 a.m. at the Ponderosa Restaurant, 108 S. 8th, Dolores. The presentation is open to the public. For more information, contact Betty Janes at 533-1051 or ejanes@frontier.net.

Book signing in Dolores

Author Lowell F. Volk, of Pleasant View, will be hold a book signing On March 23 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Dolores Public Library, 1002 Railroad Ave.

Volk's book - "Luke Taylor: Westward Bound" - is a Civil War novel where Taylor struggles to keep his family safe as Union soldiers march through the South burning crops, destroying buildings, and killing livestock. When a band of renegades dressed as Union soldiers attacks his home, killing his brother and beating him and his mother, Luke must leave the farm to find his father.

Dolores River Boating Advocates will host a "Leave No Trace" awareness workshop for whitewater boaters on Saturday, March 23 at 4Corners Riversports in Durango from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn how to minimize impacts to the rivers Rick Ryan, former BLM Dolores River ranger, will lead the training. Cost is $10, which includes lunch and all materials. Space is limited, register by calling 799-1475 or email info@doloresriverboating.org.

American Legion concerts

Vanishing Breed Band will be at the American Legion, 320 N. Harrison, March 23, 8 p.m. Shake off those winter blues with Odis & the boys. There is a $5 cover, 21 and over. Also this month, Beautifull Loser's are playing at 8 p.m. on March 30. There will also be a $5 cover, 21 and over. Come shake off the winter blues and pop into spring with these two fabulous bands!

Messianic Passover Seder

Passover Seder will be held on Monday, March 25 at 6 p.m. at 15325 Rd. 22 (north of Cortez, near Road S, off Highway 491). As celebrated in homes throughout the world, the Passover Seder is rich with historical meaning and traditions, as well as with Messianic symbolism. Passover is a holy convocation, a calling together for a sacred assembly. The observance will last about three hours and includes reading together through the Haggadah, eating the symbolic elements, drinking the cups, partaking of a meal of traditional foods, partaking of the Lord's Supper, all with music and worship and in order. An optional $10 donation would be appreciated. Please RSVP to one of the following by March 20: Mike and Paulette Gasner, 882-7696; Ron and Carolyn Lucus, 565-2430; Jeanette Conacher, 560-1651; Pat Grant, 560-2848; or Jean Oliver, 565-0747.

Bingo in Dolores

Dolores Rotary Bingo will be held Tuesday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. Dinner (chili and soups, drink and dessert for $5) Bingo begins at 7 p.m. Help support the Dolores Operation Graduation by playing Bingo.

Dr. Seuss Family Night

The Montelores Early Childhood Council will present A Dr. Seuss Family Night in honor of the 108th birthday of Dr. Seuss. This free evening includes dinner and many fun activities for parents to do with their preschoolers. It takes place on Thursday, March 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Beech Street Preschool Big Room Please RSVP by March 25 to brittanyconner@cortez.k12.co.us or 970-565-7491.

Easter party for children

All children in kindergarten through fourth grade are invited to attend an Easter party from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at the Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church, 350 S. Washington St., Cortez, directly across the street from Manaugh School.

This activity is being organized by the "Fellowshipping Fun Loving Outreaching Christian" committee and the Youth Group of the church. Numerous games and activities are being planned for the children to enjoy. A raffle will be held for a number of items, including a large vinyl bunny. Refreshments will be available for parents who accompany their children.

For more information, contact the church at 565-7024 or Jack Robbins at 882-1444.

Driver safety course offered by AARP

AARP will sponsored a driver safety course Tuesday, April 2 from 12:30 to 5 p.m. at the Calvin Denton Room in the Empire Electric Building.

This course is authorized by the state of Colorado and is designed to meet the needs of older drivers. Completion of this course can qualify you for a discount on your automobile insurance.

The course is available to all motorists whether or not they are members of AARP. A $12 fee for AARP members and a $14 fee for nonmembers is to be paid by check, (no cash or credit card) which covers materials. Please bring your driver's license and your AARP membership number (if you have one).

Register with Scott and Judy Aeschlimann at 565-3872. Leave name and phone number on the answering machine if no one is available. The class number is limited.

Two on Tap coming to Cortez

Southwest Colorado Concerts presents Two on Tap performing a concert of song and tap dance, on Tuesday, April 2 at 7 p.m. in the Montezuma-Cortez High School auditorium. Two On Tap marks the creative collaboration of two celebrated Broadway musical theatre performers Melissa Giattino and Ron DeStefano. Tickets will be on sale at the door; single-concert tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for youth, 18 years old and under. Season tickets for the four-concert 2013-2014 season will also be on sale, $45 for adults and $10 for youth 18 years old and younger. If you are not a current season ticket holder and purchase a season ticket for the 2013-2014 season at this concert, you will get into Two On Tap for free. For more information contact Paul Bostrom at 565-9127 or Joyce Stevenson at 565-4757

Computer classes at Cortez library

The Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park St., and the Unlimited Learning Center will offer computer classes in April.

Staff from the Southwest Colorado Workforce Center will be teaching a computer class on finding a job on Friday, April 12, at 1 p.m.

On Thursday, April 25 at 1 p.m. the Cortez Public Library will present "Getting an Email with Gmail."

All classes at the library must be signed up for ahead of time. Sign up by calling 565-8117 or by stopping by the library. To find out more about the classes at the Unlimited Learning Center call 565-1601.

9Health Fair coming to Mancos

The 2013 9Health Fair, sponsored locally by the Mancos Valley Loins Club, will be held April 13 at the Mancos Middle School from 7 a.m. to noon. Don't miss this opportunity for low-cost and free health care screenings for individuals over the age of 18.

Participants can review screening options, register and pre-pay for their screenings online at www.9healthfair.org. There will be a separate entry for the pre-pay participants; watch for signs.

Volunteers are needed during the fair and for setup and clean up. If you are interested in helping with the 9Health Fair, non-medical volunteers can contact Val Hobson at 533-7874 and medical volunteers can contact Deana Yeomans at 533-7985.

Community calendar

Email announcements to news@cortezjournal.com and include “Community Calendar” in the subject field. Items submitted less than two weeks in advance will be less likely to be published. Entries and the calendar may be edited for length and content.

Monday, March 30

SouthWest Colorado Concerts presents Quartetto Gelato at M-CHS at 7 p.m. This Canadian quartet is known for clever programming and humor and...